Titans vs Auckland, Group A

That finishes the first game. There is another one coming up in a short while between Kolkata and Perth. Do join us for that. Until next time, see ya!

Behardien: 'The trend has been for the batters to get in and only in the last couple of overs did I capitalise. I spoke to Jacques and we had the full license for the last 5 overs, luckily it came off today.'

Behardien is the MoM for his attacking cameo and for his three catches.

van Jaarsveld: 'It was a clinical performance. At the top Davids and Rudolph laid the platform for us. Behardien was outstanding at the death. With the ball, asked the guys to hit the deck hard and when they do, it is pretty easy to captain.'

Hopkins: 'It wasn't a great day with the bat. We were relatively happy with 170, but sad that our batting let us down. We have a chance to make the semis, so we've got to move on pretty quickly from this.'

A comprehensive win for the Titans and their 2nd win in a row. First loss for Auckland as well. The margin of defeat could've been far worse if not for the 45 run last wicket stand. The top order of the Auckland side failed today and that finished the game off. All the bowlers chipped in with Alfonso Thomas striking crucial blows. Do stay tuned for the presentation.

18.1 Alfonso Thomas to Andre Adams, out Caught by (sub)Mosehle!! The final wicket falls after a gritty stand. Andre Adams played a half-hearted flick and found the man at square leg. Titans win by 59 runs. Andre Adams c (sub)Mosehle b Alfonso Thomas 30(17) [4s-2 6s-2]

16.6 Alfonso Thomas to Andre Adams, 2 runs, makes room and lofts it over cover. Only a couple of runs

16.5 Alfonso Thomas to Andre Adams, no run, has Andre Adams pulled a side muscle? Attempted a wild slog and missed, as soon as he played that yelped in pain and went to ground. The physio is out there, looks like Adams is ok for the moment. Continues on

16.4 Alfonso Thomas to Andre Adams, FOUR, low yorker length delivery on the stumps, carved over the leaping point fielder. It races away

16.3 Alfonso Thomas to M Bates, 1 run, driven to mid off, a direct hit from Rudolph, but the batsman was in

15.6 R van der Merwe to Andre Adams, no run, how is that not a wide? Slips down leg, perhaps a stumping chance missed as well - Kuhn missed the take, Andre Adams over-balanced himself and his feet were outside the crease

13.4 Cornelius to Andre Adams, SIX, that's a clean hit. Andre Adams eyed that same shot last ball and now he sends this short ball over deep square leg and into the stands

13.3 Cornelius to Andre Adams, 2 runs, just over the reach of the back-pedalling mid on. Andre Adams swinging it high and Wiese made a magnificent effort, trying to catch one-handed, but it just fell beyond him

13.3 Cornelius to Andre Adams, 2 runs, just over the reach of the back-pedalling mid on

13.2 Cornelius to Andre Adams, no run, makes room and tries to slap it down the ground, but doesn't make contact

12.4 E Links to M Bates, FOUR, mid off is up and it is lifted over the man. Just a clean extension of the arms and one bounce over the ropes

12.3 E Links to M Bates, no run, turned to square leg, another dot

12.2 E Links to M Bates, no run, clipped to short mid wicket where the man makes a sliding stop

12.1 E Links to Andre Adams, 1 run, flicked away to fine leg

11.6 R van der Merwe to M Bates, no run, gets forward and defends

11.5 R van der Merwe to M Bates, no run, turns away and hits the back leg, but too high to be given out. Spun away from middle and trapped M Bates in front of off

Michael Bates, right handed bat, comes to the crease

11.4 R van der Merwe to Hopkins, out Caught by Kuhn!! He dropped one a couple of overs back, now takes a fine catch. Hopkins gets a thin edge on the flashy cut and Kuhn snaps it up. The lowest total on in the tournament is on the cards now. Hopkins c Kuhn b R van der Merwe 8(12) [4s-1]

R van der Merwe to Hopkins, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

11.3 R van der Merwe to Hopkins, no run, pushed back to the bowler

11.2 R van der Merwe to Hopkins, out Kyle Mills Run Out!! What a waste of a wicket. Kyle Mills is furious and rightly so. Hopkins sold his partner a dummy after calling him through, it was pushed to the right of R van der Merwe who had time to relay the ball back to his skipper. Mills was nowhere in the picture. Kyle Mills run out (R van der Merwe/van Jaarsveld) 1(3)

R van der Merwe to Hopkins, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

11.1 R van der Merwe to Hopkins, FOUR, the edge was found, but there is no slip to catch it, Hopkins getting completely squared up and it runs away past short third

Roelof van der Merwe [1.0-0-9-0] is back into the attack

10.6 E Links to Kyle Mills, no run, from round the wicket, Kyle Mills gets forward and taps it back to E Links

10.5 E Links to Kyle Mills, no run, pushed back to E Links

Mbhalaty seems to have pulled something after attempting to slide. The physio is out there

10.4 E Links to Hopkins, 1 run, clipped past short fine, just a single

10.3 E Links to Hopkins, no run, works it from outside off to short mid wicket

10.2 E Links to Kyle Mills, 1 run, shuffles across to off stump, turns it through square leg

10.1 E Links to Hopkins, 1 run, goes on the backfoot and works it to deep square leg

Eden Links [1.0-0-4-1] is back into the attack

9.6 Cornelius to Hopkins, 1 run, fraction short outside off, Hopkins steers it to third man

9.4 Cornelius to Hopkins, no run, nearly shaved the off stump. Came back a long way after Hopkins left it alone, but not good enough to hit the off stump

Kyle Mills, right handed bat, comes to the crease

9.3 Cornelius to R Hira, out Caught by Kuhn!! That's an ugly slog. Tried to heave it to leg, the ball just went straight up in the air, the keeper called for it and settled under the high ball. R Hira c Kuhn b Cornelius 0(4)

Cornelius to R Hira, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

9.2 Cornelius to R Hira, no run, too close to cut and R Hira flashes and misses

9.1 Cornelius to Hopkins, 1 run, turned through square leg, Hopkins wanted a 2nd, but the fielder moved in quickly

Cornelius de Villiers [1.0-0-9-0] is back into the attack

8.6 Mbhalati to R Hira, no run, another short ball, similar to the last one, R Hira tried to run it down, then pulled out of the shot midway

8.5 Mbhalati to R Hira, no run, short ball angled across R Hira who sways out of the way

8.4 Mbhalati to Hopkins, leg byes, 1 run, nearly a hat-trick, or Mbhalati thought so at least. He started celebrating even as he was into his appeal, Taufel smiles and says 'no'. A wrong call from him as well, there was an inside edge onto the pads which he failed to spot

Ronnie Hira, left handed bat, comes to the crease

8.3 Mbhalati to C de Grandhomme, out Caught by Rudolph!! That's two in two for Mbhalati. Short ball on the body, pulled straight and low to deep fine leg. The Auckland side are crumbling and how. C de Grandhomme c Rudolph b Mbhalati 14(11) [4s-1 6s-1]

Mbhalati to C de Grandhomme, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Gareth Hopkins, right handed bat, comes to the crease

8.2 Mbhalati to C Munro, out Caught by Behardien at deep square!! The slower ball sends C Munro back. Too early into the flick and the ball loops to the safe hands of Behardien who takes his third catch. C Munro c Behardien b Mbhalati 4(5)

Mbhalati to C Munro, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

8.1 Mbhalati to C Munro, no run, C de Grandhomme wanted the single, but C Munro after inside edging it onto the boot sent him back as Mbhalati was quick to get to the ball

Ethy Mbhalati [3.0-0-26-1] is back into the attack

7.6 R van der Merwe to C de Grandhomme, no run, looks like a dropped catch. A thick edge from C de Grandhomme and Kuhn standing up cannot grasp it

7.5 R van der Merwe to C de Grandhomme, FOUR, R van der Merwe should feel unlucky, the inside edge runs past leg-stump and CJ this time dives, but parries it onto the ropes. That effort has taken a lot out of him, he is panting

7.4 R van der Merwe to C Munro, 3 runs, top-edged reverse sweep over short third and CJ slides near the ropes to pull it back

6.6 E Links to A Kitchen, out Caught by Behardien!! That was there to be hit for six - short on off stump, pulled straight to the fielder at deep mid wicket. The runs are coming, but that is another wicket lost. A Kitchen c Behardien b E Links 23(12) [4s-3 6s-1]

E Links to A Kitchen, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

6.5 E Links to C de Grandhomme, 1 run, fraction short on the stumps, C de Grandhomme rocks back and pulls to deep square leg

6.3 E Links to C de Grandhomme, 1 run, from round the wicket and on the pads, worked away to backward square leg

6.2 E Links to C de Grandhomme, no run, C de Grandhomme comes down the track and misses out on the pull, it hits the body

6.1 E Links to A Kitchen, 1 run, flicked to deep square leg

Eden Links, right-arm off break, comes into the attack

5.6 Alfonso Thomas to A Kitchen, 1 run, cut to third man to retain strike

5.5 Alfonso Thomas to C de Grandhomme, 1 run, pulled to deep square leg, Rudolph fumbles, but still they don't come back for the 2nd

5.4 Alfonso Thomas to C de Grandhomme, SIX, top-edged for six over fine leg. C de Grandhomme making full use of the short fine in the ring

5.3 Alfonso Thomas to C de Grandhomme, no run, C de Grandhomme gets a bit squared up in trying to defend, but the leading edge doesn't carry to any of the off-side fielders

5.2 Alfonso Thomas to C de Grandhomme, no run, flash and a miss. Full outside off, C de Grandhomme missed the big square drive

Colin de Grandhomme, right handed bat, comes to the crease

5.1 Alfonso Thomas to Azhar Mahmood, out Caught by Martin Jaarsveld!! Soft dismissal and so unlike of Azhar Mahmood to be doing that. Maybe he didn't see a slip in place, just steered it low to the man who took it easily. Mahmood won't be there today to see his side through. Azhar Mahmood c Martin Jaarsveld b Alfonso Thomas 7(9)

Alfonso Thomas to Azhar Mahmood, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Alfonso Thomas [1.0-0-1-1] is back into the attack

4.6 Mbhalati to A Kitchen, FOUR, that's the third boundary of the over and the most emphatic hit. A Kitchen chips out and slams the short of length ball through cover point's hands. 15 came off that over

3.6 Cornelius to Azhar Mahmood, 1 run, full outside off, Azhar Mahmood tried to go for the big heave-ho, gets a thickish outside edge that falls well short of third man

3.5 Cornelius to A Kitchen, 1 run, pushed through cover

3.4 Cornelius to A Kitchen, no run, tight delivery on off stump, defended back to the bowler

3.3 Cornelius to Azhar Mahmood, 1 run, full one on the pads, flicked in the air and nearly carries to the man at deep square leg. On the bounce to the fielder

3.2 Cornelius to A Kitchen, leg byes, 1 run, Cornelius is lucky, the fielder was inside the ring at short fine and he bowled it on the pads. A Kitchen failed to put it away

3.1 Cornelius to A Kitchen, SIX, first ball from Cornelius and it has gone for a biggie. Short ball on the hips, pulled over deep backward square. Just about carries over the ropes

Cornelius de Villiers, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack

2.6 Mbhalati to Azhar Mahmood, 2 runs, flicked from off-stump, nice looking stroke and it is a couple of runs to deep mid wicket

Anaru Kitchen, right handed bat, comes to the crease

2.5 Mbhalati to Guptill, out Caught by Behardien!! Extra bounce does the job and the Titans are on top. It was over his shoulder and Guptill top-edged the pull, good catch too as Behardien came forward from deep square leg and took it with a tumble. Guptill c Behardien b Mbhalati 3(8)

Mbhalati to Guptill, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

2.4 Mbhalati to Guptill, no run, Guptill is too early into the pull and toe ends it back to Mbhalati. The ball nearly carries, but is taken on the bounce

2.3 Mbhalati to Guptill, no run, Mbhalati follows Guptill who was making room with a ball that hits the thigh pad

2.2 Mbhalati to Azhar Mahmood, 1 run, dabbed to third man. Azhar Mahmood is off the mark

1.6 Alfonso Thomas to Azhar Mahmood, no run, gets forward and covers the swing before defending to point

1.5 Alfonso Thomas to Azhar Mahmood, no run, the ball is swinging and there are two slips in place for Alfonso Thomas. Lovely outie, left alone by Azhar Mahmood

Azhar Mahmood, right handed bat, comes to the crease

1.4 Alfonso Thomas to Vincent, out Caught by Kuhn!! That is a crucial wicket. Short of a length outside off, Vincent played a nothing shot - trying to steer to third man and presented a thin edge to Kuhn. Thomas jumps in joy after getting his man. Vincent c Kuhn b Alfonso Thomas 6(6) [6s-1]

Alfonso Thomas to Vincent, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

1.3 Alfonso Thomas to Vincent, no run, lovely off-stump delivery, moved just a fraction away and missed the prodding defensive stroke of Vincent

1.1 Alfonso Thomas to Guptill, no run, Alfonso Thomas starts off with a good middle stump yorker, Guptill digs it out

Alfonso Thomas, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack

0.6 Mbhalati to Vincent, no run, mistimes the powerful drive, dribbles to mid on

0.5 Mbhalati to Vincent, SIX, biggie! First-tier. Vincent comes down the track and then spots the change of pace, before teeing off over long on. Struck it right off the middle of the bat

0.4 Mbhalati to Vincent, no run, fuller length outside off, driven crisply, but straight to the fielder at mid off

0.3 Mbhalati to Vincent, no run, loud appeal for LBW, but that was going down. Vincent missing out on the leg-side flick

0.2 Mbhalati to Guptill, 1 run, quick single, defends it softly to point, looks up at his partner and runs across after he responds. Good running

0.1 Mbhalati to Guptill, no run, back of a length and nips back in sharply, Guptill defends it back to the bowler

0.1 Mbhalati to Guptill, no run, back of a length and nips back in sharply, Guptill defends it back to the bowler

Guptill and Vincent are at the crease. Guptill is on strike. Mbhalati will open the attack

Back for the chase. The pitch looks good, so hopefully we get a good game.

The Titans have ended up with a good score on a wicket that is slightly two paced. Rudolph played well at the top and later Behardien finished it off with a 23 ball 48. In between those two innings, the Auckland side bossed the game. It should be a good chase, so do join us shortly for that.

19.6 Azhar Mahmood to Behardien, SIX, that last ball goes for a 6. Full toss on the stumps, swung away to the deep mid wicket fence. That is a fine little innings from Behardien.

17.6 M Bates to Behardien, 2 runs, that should have been another wicket for M Bates. No calling from Guptill and Kitchen running in from the boundary and it falls in between both of them

17.5 M Bates to Behardien, 2 runs, shuffles across to off and heaves it to deep mid wicket, Andre Adams was quick, but the batsmen make it easily

17.4 M Bates to Behardien, 2 runs, flashes it over point and it is hauled back in at the ropes

Roelof van der Merwe, right handed bat, comes to the crease

17.3 M Bates to Rudolph, out Caught by Andre Adams!! Good diving catch. Rudolph goes, chipping it towards cover where Adams went to his left, dived and took it over his shoulder with both hands. Rudolph c Andre Adams b M Bates 63(56) [4s-7]

M Bates to Rudolph, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

17.2 M Bates to Behardien, 1 run, full toss and Behardien has failed to put it away, slamming it to long on

17.1 M Bates to Rudolph, 1 run, pulled to deep mid wicket, only a single

Michael Bates [2.0-0-13-0] is back into the attack

16.6 Andre Adams to Behardien, 2 runs, Guptill running in from long on fails to pick the ball cleanly and they go back for the 2nd

16.5 Andre Adams to Rudolph, 1 run, no timing on that lofted hit and it goes straight to the fielder at long off

11.1 R Hira to Martin Jaarsveld, 1 run, the fielder at long-off has made a hash of it. He thought it will carry to him and it bounced in front of him. R Hira isn't impressed at all. Will the Auckland side live to regret that moment?

10.6 Azhar Mahmood to Rudolph, no run, Rudolph tries to be cute this time, makes room and tries to upper cut, can't make contact

10.5 Azhar Mahmood to Rudolph, FOUR, Azhar Mahmood has bowled superbly this over and now the luck goes against him. Rudolph French-cutting a yorker past his leg stump

10.4 Azhar Mahmood to Martin Jaarsveld, 1 run, slower delivery on off, Martin Jaarsveld pushes it to cover, wide of the man, so a single is there for the taking

10.3 Azhar Mahmood to Martin Jaarsveld, no run, punched to cover, straight to the fielder

10.2 Azhar Mahmood to Rudolph, 1 run, this time he sees the swing and clips it to deep square leg

10.1 Azhar Mahmood to Rudolph, no run, that nearly sneaked through. Late inswing and full on middle, Rudolph edged the flick onto the boot

9.6 R Hira to Martin Jaarsveld, 2 runs, cut away to deep backward point, there is a fumble and they come back for the 2nd

8.6 Azhar Mahmood to Rudolph, 1 run, slower short ball and Rudolph picks it, before pulling to the man at deep square

8.5 Azhar Mahmood to Martin Jaarsveld, 1 run, short one down leg, pulled to fine leg

8.4 Azhar Mahmood to Martin Jaarsveld, no run, driven to cover, straight to the fielder

Martin van Jaarsveld, right handed bat, comes to the crease

8.3 Azhar Mahmood to Davids, out Bowled!! Azhar Mahmood cleans up Davids with a fast off-stump yorker. Davids tried to open the face and run it down, but the ball sneaked in. Mahmood continues to take wickets. Davids b Azhar Mahmood 36(23) [4s-5 6s-1]

Azhar Mahmood to Davids, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

8.2 Azhar Mahmood to Davids, FOUR, that is a top shot. Just stood there and short-arm jabbed it into the gap at deep mid wicket. Nothing wrong with the delivery - too good from Davids

8.1 Azhar Mahmood to Rudolph, 1 run, slower delivery and run down to third man

Azhar Mahmood [1.0-0-7-0] is back into the attack

7.6 R Hira to Rudolph, 1 run, rocks back and punches it through mid wicket again

7.5 R Hira to Rudolph, no run, fails to turn away a leg-sidish delivery. Rolls off the pad near the keeper

7.4 R Hira to Rudolph, 2 runs, turned with soft hands through mid wicket, and they run hard to come back for the 2nd

3.3 Azhar Mahmood to Davids, FOUR, Davids picked the slower delivery and waited for it before crashing it over cover. Well played.

3.2 Azhar Mahmood to Davids, no run, tight length ball on off stump, Davids defends to the off side

3.1 Azhar Mahmood to Rudolph, 1 run, Rudolph opens the face of the bat and steers it wide of point, Mills runs in and prevents the 2nd

Azhar Mahmood, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack

2.6 Kyle Mills to Davids, no run, slower delivery - from the back of the hand, Davids pushes it to cover

2.5 Kyle Mills to Davids, FOUR, Davids gives the charge and lifts it over mid off. Hit the high part of the bat, but still good enough to carry it over the man. A couple of bounces and rolls to the ropes

2.4 Kyle Mills to Rudolph, 1 run, now a length ball on the hips is nuged to backward square leg

2.3 Kyle Mills to Rudolph, FOUR, smashed! In between Kyle Mills' legs. Rudolph has had enough - just a step towards the ball and biffed past the bowler

2.2 Kyle Mills to Rudolph, no run, beaten! Off-cutter and Rudolph felt that - nibbling at that and is lucky that it didn't catch the edge

2.1 Kyle Mills to Rudolph, no run, almost caught at point. Rears up from a good length and hits Rudolph's splice, the leading edge goes on the bounce and doesn't carry

1.6 M Bates to Davids, FOUR, bad ball - a half volley outside off, Davids leant forward and cover drove wide of cover. The Titans are off to a flier and that is a very poor over from M Bates - he was all over the place

1.4 M Bates to Rudolph, 1 run, nudged from middle stump line to short fine leg, the strike turns over

1.3 M Bates to Rudolph, FOUR, 'that's a good shot' says Martin Guptill who is wired up, another of those patented Rudolph cover drives - on the up and wide of both mid-off and cover. Rudolph looks in good nick and seems to be carrying on from the last game

1.3 M Bates to Rudolph, wide, slips well down leg. Easy call for the umpire

1.2 M Bates to Davids, 1 run, turned with soft hands to short mid wicket and they pinch another well judged single

1.1 M Bates to Rudolph, leg byes, 1 run, sliding down the leg side, Rudolph can't connect with the flick, rolls off the pad and they take a leg-bye

Michael Bates, left-arm fast medium, comes into the attack

0.6 Kyle Mills to Davids, 2 runs, nicely punched off the backfoot, past cover and Guptill runs back to haul it back in with a slide. Can't prevent the two though

0.5 Kyle Mills to Davids, no run, in the air, but short of square leg. That stopped on Davids and he looks surprised

0.4 Kyle Mills to Rudolph, 1 run, Rudolph played it with soft hands towards mid off and makes it with a dive. The throw from de Grandhomme didn't hit direct though

0.3 Kyle Mills to Rudolph, no run, punched off the backfoot and now point dives to his left to save some runs

0.2 Kyle Mills to Rudolph, FOUR, that's a nice way to get off the mark. Very full outside off, Rudolph gets forward and opens the face to get it wide of a diving Guptill at cover

0.1 Kyle Mills to Davids, 1 run, good length and a hint of inswing, Davids plonks his front-foot across and turns it to deep backward square leg

Davids and Rudolph are at the crease. Davids is on strike. Kyle Mills will open the attack

van Jaarsveld: 'I'm disappointed at losing the toss, there will be a bit in it, having said that we have to come out and bat well. We are playing the same team from the last game.'

Hopkins: 'We are going to have a bowl, I don't think the pitch will break up and chasing has worked for us so far. For us it is about to keep the momentum going. The same team - the boys are playing well, so can't really change it.'

Auckland have won the toss and elected to field

Welcome to game 1 of yet another double header. Auckland take on Titans in the first game and Kolkata will take on Perth in the evening game today. Auckland are on a roll - they are the underdogs but have started the main tournament with a win over Kolkata. Titans won their opening game too, they defeated Perth to get their campaign off to a winning start. Stay tuned for the toss and other updates

Preview

Auckland have been the story of the Champions League so far. They were up against history, no team from New Zealand had won a match in the T20 League but they fought hard and ensured their qualification into the main rounds. The slick victory over Kolkata in the opening match of the main draw showed that the qualification was no fluke. With three wins under their belt, they suddenly look like one of the hot prospects for a place in the semi-finals. They are up against a team that has the first hand knowledge of the conditions. Titans brushed aside Perth in their first match with a good all-round show. Two in-form teams will meet in a battle of wits and guile.

Titans:

The domestic champions from South Africa started their charge with an impressive showing against the Scorchers. Openers Jacques Rudolph and Henry Davids made fifties to steer them to a healthy score. The rest of the batting order did not get a decent hit, but the team will back them to come good later on in the tournament. The bowling was very disciplined. CJ de Viliers led the charge with a double breakthrough at the top, something from which Perth never recovered. With depth in both departments, Titan will fancy themselves to put across the exuberant Kiwis.

Auckland:

The surprise package of the tournament, Auckland will fancy themselves for another kill on Wednesday. The plucky men have impressed one and all with their nerveless chases. Guptill and Vincent have provided fast stars but the star has been Azhar Mahmood. The former Pakistan all-rounder now an expat of Britain, Mahmood has been the life of this squad. Throw in Anaru Kitchen and Colin de Grandhomme, they have the explosiveness to test any bowling line-up.

Kyle Mills has led the bowling department with plenty of skills and has been well supported by Michael Bates, Andre Adams and Roneel Hira. With Mahmood in the the mix, the bowling has an international flavor to it.

Quotes:

I think it's a great concept and it's often compared to something like the football Champions League, and I think a competition like this has the potential to be as great as that - Kyle Mills gives the thumbs-up to the competition.

[The win] just gives you loads of confidence...I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous - Martin van Jaarsveld admits he was nervous before the match against Perth.